The Little Eye in the Sky

Posted on 11/05/2018

4 min read

During the May holiday traffic operation, the DGT set about testing another vigilance device, one small enough to fit in a briefcase, but powerful enough to monitor a larger stretch of road that ground patrols ever could, their very own unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or DRONES as we like to call them.

The DGT currently has five drones: 1 Phantom 2, 1 Phantom 4 Pro, 1 Matrice 200 and 2 S900 units, with plans to buy another seven, as announced by the Director General of Traffic in a recent state budget.

The drones which were put to the test have a range of approximately 500 metres, operate at a height of 120 metres and offer 2 hours of autonomous flight, which gives an immediacy to their mobilization, operational flexibility and multipurpose use of the services to be provided.

According to Gregorio Serrano, “The incorporation of these unmanned devices to the aerial surveillance services of the DGT will contribute to better traffic management, greater protection for vulnerable groups (cyclists) and a better service in special operations, such as competitions for motorcycling, Paso delEstrecho or the device this weekend.”

The DGT is accredited by the State Air Safety Agency as an operator of remotely piloted aircraft systems. Likewise, the Helicopter Unit of the DGT is a pilot training organization for the issuance of basic and advanced certificates for drone piloting.

Meet the Drone Family

The DGT currently owns two drones from the Phantom brand, the company renowned for selling the most vehicles to the professional community. The DGT has one Phantom 2 and one Phantom 4 Pro, which stands out mainly due to its integrated high definition camera, its recording mode with stabilizer and its positioning and transmission system with GPS. In addition, the WiFi connection also allows the Phantom drones to fly higher than others in the same category.

There is also a Matrice 200 in the fleet, with high performance engines, coupled with 17-inch propellers, ensuring a stable flight in winds of speeds up to 35 km / h. The new dual battery system heats the batteries automatically on flights at temperatures below zero, and offers a 7 kilometre maximum operating distance, with 38 minutes of flight. The device is well insulated, ensuring resistance to water and weather, so it can fly in all kinds of environments. The downside, it is a much more expensive device than conventional drones.

As for the S900, this is a simple flying device with much more power than the small and manageable Phantom, being the ideal option for those professionals who want to take to the air, with a camera attached, in the shortest time. It only offers 18 minutes of flight, but is ready to go in an instant.